CN111566033B

CN111566033B - Paper stacking roller, paper stacking device and paper processing device

Info

Publication number: CN111566033B
Application number: CN201880086062.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 井泽伸也; 石原悠纪
Original assignee: Japan Cash Machine Co Ltd
Current assignee: Japan Cash Machine Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-01-16
Filing date: 2018-10-09
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-09
Also published as: JP6389969B1; AU2018402553A1; US11472657B2; WO2019142411A1; EP3741719B1; CN111566033A; AU2018402553B2; TW201933290A; SG11202004277QA; JP2019123586A; KR20200090907A; US20200339372A1; CA3081999C; KR102359905B1; MX2020006379A; PH12020050210A1; PH12020552302A1; CA3081999A1; EP3741719A4; EP3741719A1

Abstract

The present invention provides the following techniques: a drum type paper stacking device is provided, which can continuously supply paper to the outer circumference of a delivery drum, stack the paper in a stacked state, and perform batch return processing, and can maintain the linear velocity of the paper at the outermost circumference of the delivery drum to be constant without special speed control even if the number of the paper stacked on the outer circumference of the delivery drum is increased, thereby maintaining the neat state of paper money. A paper sheet stacking roller (105) that stacks paper sheets fed one by one on an outer peripheral surface while rotating, the paper sheet stacking roller comprising: and a plurality of in-out members (280) which are provided at a paper stacking portion on the outer peripheral surface in a predetermined circumferential arrangement manner, are configured to be capable of moving in and out between a most protruding position protruding in the outer radial direction and a retreating position retreating in the inner radial direction from the most protruding position, are elastically biased in the protruding direction, and are configured to contact the surface of the paper by the outer surface, wherein the paper is stacked astride the in-out members.

Description

Paper stacking roller, paper stacking device and paper processing device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to improvements in a paper sheet handling apparatus provided in a paper sheet handling apparatus such as a vending machine, a paper sheet stacking apparatus provided in the paper sheet handling apparatus, and a paper sheet stacking drum.

Background

As a banknote handling apparatus equipped with a banknote handling apparatus such as a vending machine, a game medium lending machine in a game arcade, a depositing and dispensing apparatus, and a changer that provide various articles and services by receiving banknotes inserted by a customer, a recycling-type banknote handling apparatus capable of continuously receiving, storing, and dispensing banknotes of a plurality of denominations is known.

This banknote handling apparatus includes a delivery stacking apparatus that stacks rejected banknotes rejected by the recognition unit and banknotes returned by the rejection after the banknotes are inserted, and delivers the stacked banknotes to a return port.

As this payout stacking apparatus, there is an apparatus that temporarily winds banknotes inserted by a customer around the outer periphery of a drum to temporarily hold the banknotes and withdraws the banknotes in bulk when cancelling or forgetting the banknotes, as disclosed in patent document 1 (japanese patent application laid-open No. h 06-32514), patent document 2 (japanese patent No. 2814249), patent document 3 (japanese patent No. 4563435), and patent document 4 (japanese patent application laid-open No. 10-508962), respectively.

However, since the structure is such that a plurality of banknotes are stacked in order on the outer circumferential surface of a cylindrical drum having a fixed outer circumferential length and outer diameter and then delivered in bulk, the outer diameter (circumference) of the drum including the thickness of the banknotes increases and the circumferential speed of the outermost banknotes increases as the number of stacked banknotes increases by one. Therefore, when the transport speed of the banknotes introduced into the drum is constant, the timing of matching the leading ends of the stacked banknotes on the outer periphery of the drum with the leading ends of the following banknotes is sequentially shifted, and positional deviation occurs between the stacked banknotes.

In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to perform speed adjustment control for sequentially decreasing the peripheral speed of the drum so as to match the transport speed of the banknotes with an increase in the number of stacked banknotes. However, the actual increase in the outer diameter and the peripheral speed is not constant due to various factors such as the difference in the thickness of the bill and the degree of deformation of creases and the like, and therefore, high-precision control of the peripheral speed of the drum is extremely difficult in practice, and the control procedure becomes complicated.

Such a problem occurs not only in the banknote handling apparatus but also in a sheet handling apparatus that handles sheets other than banknotes, for example, bills, vouchers, securities, and the like.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. H06-32514

Patent document 2: japanese patent No. 2814249

Patent document 3: japanese patent No. 4563435

Patent document 4: japanese Kohyo publication Hei 10-508962

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide the following technology: a drum type paper stacking device is provided, which can maintain the linear velocity of the paper at the outmost periphery of a delivery drum to be constant and the regular state of paper money even if the number of the paper stacked at the periphery of the delivery drum is increased without performing special speed control, by sequentially supplying the paper to the periphery of the delivery drum and winding and stacking the paper in a stacked state and then performing batch transfer processing when the transfer (return and discharge) of the paper temporarily retained after input is determined.

Means for solving the problems

In order to achieve the above object, a paper sheet stacking cylinder according to the invention of claim 1 for stacking paper sheets fed one by one on an outer peripheral surface while rotating, the paper sheet stacking cylinder comprising: and a plurality of in-out members provided at a paper sheet stacking portion on the outer peripheral surface in a predetermined circumferential arrangement, configured to be capable of moving in and out between a most protruding position protruding in an outer radial direction and a retracted position retracted in an inner radial direction from the most protruding position, and to be elastically urged in the protruding direction, and configured to contact a surface of a paper sheet by an outer surface, wherein the paper sheet is stacked astride between the in-out members.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, the following techniques are provided: a drum type paper stacking device is provided, which can continuously supply paper to the outer circumference of a delivery drum, stack the paper in a stacked state, and then perform batch discharge processing, and can maintain the linear velocity of the paper at the outermost circumference of the delivery drum to be constant without special speed control even if the number of the paper stacked on the outer circumference of the delivery drum is increased, thereby maintaining the neat state of paper money.

Drawings

Fig. 1(a) and (b) are a front view and a cross-sectional view a-a of a paper sheet (bill) handling apparatus including a paper sheet stacking apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2(a) and (b) are explanatory views showing a depositing operation and a determining operation of the banknote handling apparatus.

Fig. 3(a) and (b) are explanatory views showing the dispensing operation and the collecting operation of the banknote handling apparatus.

Fig. 4(a), (B) and (c) are an external perspective view of the escrow/stacking unit, a sectional view B-B, and a perspective view showing an external structure of the payout stacking unit alone.

FIG. 5(a) is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the discharge stacking section excluding the right side plate, (b) is a perspective view of a C-C section of (a), (C) is a perspective view of a D-D section of (a), and (D) is a sectional view of a D-D side of (a).

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the structure of the transport mechanism with the payout roller as the center.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an internal structure (gear mechanism) of the discharge stacking unit excluding the left side plate.

Fig. 8(a), (b) and (c) are perspective views showing a state in which each belt mechanism is disposed to the discharge drum, an external perspective view of the discharge drum alone, and a vertical sectional perspective view showing the support mechanism of the entry and exit member.

Fig. 9(a) and (b) are perspective views showing a state in which the belt mechanisms and the dampers are arranged for the payout rollers.

Fig. 10(a), (b) and (c) are an external perspective view, a vertical sectional perspective view and a vertical sectional side view showing the payout roller.

Fig. 11(a), (b) and (c) are perspective views showing a process of winding the banknotes onto the payout rollers.

Fig. 12(a) to (c) are explanatory diagrams of a stacking operation of winding banknotes around the outer periphery of the delivery drum.

Fig. 13(d) and (e) are explanatory views of operations subsequent to the stacking operation.

Fig. 14(f) to (h) are explanatory views of operations subsequent to the stacking operation.

Fig. 15(i) and (j) are explanatory diagrams of operations subsequent to the stacking operation.

Fig. 16(a) to (c) are explanatory diagrams showing a procedure of the batch payout operation.

Fig. 17(a) to (c) are explanatory diagrams showing a procedure of the forgotten banknote-taking processing operation.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart showing the stacking operation, the batch dispensing operation, and the left behind banknote handling operation.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

[ Structure of paper money handling apparatus ]

In the present embodiment, a description is given of an apparatus for processing bills as an example of sheets, but the sheet stacking drum, the sheet stacking apparatus, and the sheet processing apparatus of the present invention can be generally applied to a processing apparatus for sheets such as vouchers, bills, securities, and the like, in addition to bills.

In this example, the explanation is made on the apparatus for handling the rejected banknotes, but the present invention is not limited to the rejected banknotes, and can be applied to an apparatus for stacking banknotes on the outer periphery of the payout drum and then transferring the stacked banknotes to another place.

A circulation-type banknote handling apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as a banknote handling apparatus) 1 shown in fig. 1 is an apparatus which is equipped with or arranged side by side with a banknote handling apparatus such as a game medium lending machine, a ticket vending machine, or a game arcade, and which receives banknotes and performs payment processing of banknotes as change or the like.

The banknote handling apparatus 1 is generally configured by: a case 3 constituting an exterior body; a deposit and withdrawal processing unit M for conveying the banknotes deposited in the casing into and out of the machine through a desired path; a banknote storage unit N for storing banknotes transported from the banknote deposit and withdrawal processing unit M or for transferring banknotes to and from the banknote deposit and withdrawal processing unit M; a conveying mechanism that conveys paper money through various paths; and a control mechanism (CPU, MPU, ROM, RAM, etc.) 300 (fig. 2, 3) that controls various control objects.

The deposit and withdrawal processing unit M includes: a deposit/withdrawal port 5 for receiving a bundle of 30 banknotes in batch, including banknotes of different denominations, or serving as a return port for returning the deposited banknotes; a return port 7 serving as a dispensing/dispensing port and a deposit reject return port for at most 30 banknotes; a batch deposit unit 11 that separates a bundle of banknotes deposited and placed in the deposit and withdrawal port 5 into one banknote by one banknote and introduces the banknote into the apparatus main body along the deposited banknote transport path 9 a; a centering section 13 disposed downstream of the batch deposit section 11 and configured to align a widthwise position of the transported bill with a center portion of the transport path; a recognition unit 15 disposed downstream of the fixed center part and used in combination with an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor to determine the denomination, authenticity, and the like of the deposited banknotes; a escrow unit (temporary holding unit) 20 that temporarily holds up to 30 deposited banknotes that have passed through the recognition unit, and that feeds out the deposited banknotes to each storage unit and a collection box described later when the deposited banknotes are received with certainty, and that feeds out the deposited banknotes to a delivery stacking unit (delivery stacking device) 22 when withdrawal is cancelled by a withdrawal request or the like; a delivery stacking unit (stacking device for returned banknotes) 22 for stacking the returned banknotes and rejected banknotes (hereinafter referred to as returned banknotes) conveyed from the escrow unit and delivering them to the return port 7; and a left behind banknote storage unit (banknote holding unit) 24 that returns the returned banknotes that have been paid out from the payout stacking unit 22 to the return port 7 by the customer through a predetermined time period and stores the returned banknotes as left behind banknotes.

The banknote storage unit N includes: first and second circulation

type storage units

30 and 32 for storing banknotes fed out one by one from the escrow unit 20 and transported on the stored banknote transport path 9b so as to be freely accessible for each denomination when the deposited banknotes are determined to be received; and a collection box (collected banknote storage unit) 40 which is detachably mounted in the storage space 3a provided below the second recycling-type storage unit 32 from the front side, and collects all denominations from the respective recycling-type storage units when business is over, or collects large-amount banknotes that are not used for change, and surplus banknotes that are not completely stored in the respective recycling-type storage units.

The transport mechanism includes a motor, a solenoid, a pulley, a belt, a shutter, and the like for generating and transmitting a driving force for transporting the banknotes along the

transport paths

9a and 9b and the other transport paths.

The control means 300 controls the controlled objects such as the deposit and withdrawal processing section M, the banknote storage section N, and the transport mechanism.

The maximum number of banknotes handled in the deposit and withdrawal port 5 and the reject port 7 is merely an example.

The first and second circulation

type storage units

30 and 32 in this example are provided with two

circulation rollers

30a and 32a, respectively, each storing 60 sheets at most. Each of the

circulation drums

30a and 32a is of a type suitable for circulation in which bills are stored between one long strip wound in a spiral overlapping manner on the outer peripheral surface of the circulation drum, but this is of course merely an example.

[ various actions of the banknote handling apparatus ]

Next, an outline of the depositing operation, the determining operation, the dispensing operation, and the collecting operation in the banknote handling apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1 having the banknote delivery stacking unit (stacking apparatus for rejected banknotes) 22 according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2 and 3.

That is, fig. 2(a) and (b) are explanatory views showing a depositing operation and a determining operation of the banknote handling apparatus, and fig. 3(a) and (b) are explanatory views showing a dispensing operation and a collecting operation of the banknote handling apparatus.

First, in the depositing operation of fig. 2(a), when one or more banknotes are inserted from the input/output port 5, the control mechanism 300 that receives a signal from a sensor that detects the banknotes operates the transport mechanism to store the banknotes using the batch depositing unit 11 and the deposited banknote transport path 9 a. The batch deposit unit 11 takes out banknotes one by one from the uppermost banknote in the banknote bundle placed in the deposit and withdrawal port 5 and conveys the banknotes to the centering unit 13. The bill transported to the centering section is centered and then moved to the recognition section 15 for recognition. The banknotes judged to be receivable by the recognition unit 15 are conveyed to the escrow unit 20, wound around the outer circumference of the escrow drum 21 one by one, and temporarily held, waiting for the determination of deposit. When the rejected banknotes determined to be unacceptable in the recognition unit are banknotes inserted one by one from the input/output port 5, the rejected banknotes are discharged to the outside of the machine directly from the reject port 7. On the other hand, when a plurality of banknotes inserted in a batch are rejected, the banknotes are stacked (1 to a plurality of banknotes) temporarily in the delivery stacking unit 22, collected by the reject port 7, discharged to the outside of the machine, and rejected. When a customer requests to reject bills by operating a cancel button, not shown, the bills temporarily held in the escrow unit 20 are fed out one by one to the delivery stacking unit 22, and stacked one by one around the outer periphery of the rotating delivery drum 105. When all the banknotes inserted by the customer have been stacked on the outer circumference of the dispensing drum, the dispensing drum 105 is rotated in the dispensing direction, and the bundle of banknotes is ejected from the reject port 7 to the outside and rejected, thereby prompting the customer to receive the bundle of banknotes.

When the bundle of banknotes protruding outside the machine to be withdrawn from the withdrawal port 7 has not been withdrawn by the customer for a predetermined time, the dispensing drum is reversed in the direction of return and is returned into the machine, and is stored as left behind banknotes in the left behind banknote storage section 24.

In the stage where the banknotes for deposit temporarily held in the escrow unit 20 are determined in the determination operation of fig. 2(b), the banknotes are fed out one by one from the escrow unit, the banknotes used for change are stored in any one of the recycling-

type storage units

30 and 32 by denomination via the stored-banknote transport path 9b, and the banknotes not used for change are stored in the collection box 40.

In the dispensing operation of fig. 3(a), when the banknotes are change-giving banknotes, the banknotes stored in the recycling-

type storage units

30 and 32 are taken out and recognized by the recognition unit 15, and if the banknotes are retractable, the banknotes are temporarily stacked (1 to a plurality of banknotes) in the delivery stacking unit 22 and then are delivered in bulk from the reject port 7 as change.

On the other hand, when the banknotes are judged to be unreleasable by the recognition of the recognition unit 15, the banknotes are temporarily stored in the escrow unit 22, and then transferred to the collection box 40 and stored therein.

In the collecting operation of fig. 3(b), the banknotes stored in the recycling-

type storage units

30 and 32 are temporarily stacked in the escrow unit 20 and then stored in the collection box 40 at the end of business hours.

[ Structure of the delivery accumulation portion ]

The discharge stacking unit (discharge stacking device) 22 will be described in detail below.

Fig. 4(a), (B) and (C) are an external perspective view, a B-B sectional view and a perspective view showing an external structure of the supporting/stacking unit alone, fig. 5(a) is a perspective view showing an internal structure of the supporting/stacking unit excluding a right side plate, (B) is a C-C sectional perspective view of (a), (C) is a D-D sectional perspective view of (a), (D) is a D-D side sectional view of (a), and fig. 6 is a structural schematic view of the conveying mechanism centering on the supporting roller. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing an internal structure (gear mechanism) of the discharge stacking unit excluding the left side plate.

The escrow/stacking unit 50 shown in fig. 4(a) and (b) is configured to be detachable from the deposit and withdrawal processing unit M of the housing 3, and has a structure in which the escrow unit 20 and the delivery stacking unit 22 are coupled.

Here, the details of the structure of the duct receiving portion 20 are not related to the gist of the present invention, and therefore, are not mentioned.

The external configuration of the discharge accumulation section 22 separated from the escrow section 20 is shown in fig. 4 (c).

The delivery stacking unit 22 includes: a substantially box-shaped housing 100; a receiving port (receiving unit) 102 having an opening formed in an upper portion of the rear surface of the casing 100 and configured to receive banknotes (reject banknotes ) B, which are transported one by one in the longitudinal direction by the transport belt 20a on the escrow unit 20 side, one by one; a delivery drum (banknote (paper sheet) stacking drum) 105 which is supported in the housing 100 so as to be rotatable forward and backward, sequentially stacks banknotes, which are introduced one by one from the inlet port 102, on the outer peripheral surface in a stacked state during forward rotation, delivers a stacked banknote bundle from the outlet 107 by forward rotation at the time of withdrawal after completion of stacking, and discharges the stacked banknote bundle from the discharge port 108 to the left behind banknote storage unit (banknote holding unit) 24 by reverse rotation at the time of collection of left behind banknotes; an outlet (first outlet) 107 serving as a discharge port for discharging the banknote bundle stacked on the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum to the outside of the housing (the reject port 7 of the banknote handling apparatus); a first belt mechanism (first conveyance guide member, receiving and discharging belt mechanism) 110 having a first belt (conveyance guide member) 111, the first belt 111 forming a first contact travel region T1 that contacts the upper outer circumferential surface of the payout drum 105 within a predetermined circumferential range, and guiding the leading end of the banknote B introduced from the inlet port 102 to the outer surface of the payout drum in the receiving standby position shown in fig. 6 by traveling in the receiving direction (clockwise direction a in fig. 6); a first reverse flow prevention shutter (receiving switching guide member) 120 which is located below one of a plurality of pulleys 112a that tension a first belt 111 constituting the first belt mechanism 110 in a loop, is urged by a spring (not shown) to the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum so as to be rotatable up and down (supported by a rotary shaft of the one pulley 112a in the first belt mechanism), and guides the leading end of the bill just introduced from the inlet to the outer peripheral surface of the drum in cooperation with the first belt 111; a second belt mechanism (second conveyance guide member) 130 having a second belt (conveyance guide member) 131, the second belt 131 forming a second contact travel area T2 below the front portion of the first belt mechanism 110 that is in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the payout drum 105 within a predetermined range (from the front surface to the lower surface of the outer circumferential surface of the drum); a third belt mechanism (third conveyance guide member) 140 having a third belt (conveyance guide member) 141, the third belt 141 forming a third contact travel region T3 in contact with the rear outer circumferential surface of the payout drum within a predetermined range behind the second belt mechanism 130; a fourth belt mechanism 150 having a fourth belt 151, the fourth belt 151 being annularly tensioned by pulleys 152a, 152b respectively disposed above and below an uppermost pulley 132a of a plurality of pulleys that annularly tension the second belt 131, thereby forming fourth and fifth contact traveling regions T4, T5 that are in contact with the first belt lower surface and the second belt outer surface within a predetermined range; a second shutter (first outlet switching guide member) 160 which is supported by a shaft portion 161 at one end of the front portion of the first shutter 120 on the inside of the outlet 107 so as to be vertically movable, and is elastically urged in a counterclockwise direction away from the outer peripheral surface of the discharge drum 105 at all times; a solenoid (swing solenoid, drive source), not shown, which rotates the second shutter clockwise against the spring, thereby displacing the front end portion (right end portion) of the second shutter to the inner diameter side of the delivery drum; a third shutter (switching guide member) 170 which is disposed at a position (front surface side lower portion) on the opposite side of the second shutter that sandwiches the payout roller by about 180 degrees and which rotates left and right about a shaft 171 and is urged by a spring (not shown) toward the inner diameter side of the payout roller shown in fig. 6; an ejection port (second outlet) 180 for ejecting the left behind note BB' shown in fig. 17 to the left behind note storage unit 24; and a motor (drive source) 190 for driving the belt mechanisms and the delivery rollers. Further, a control mechanism dedicated to the discharge stacking unit 22 may be provided separately from the control mechanism 300.

The delivery drum 105 is a paper sheet stacking drum that stacks the banknotes B fed one by one on the outer peripheral surface while rotating around a rotation shaft 105a, and includes: a drum main body 250 which is rotationally driven; and a plurality of in-out members (bill support members) 280(280A, 280B) provided at a bill stacking portion on the outer peripheral surface of the drum main body in a predetermined circumferential arrangement manner (with a predetermined interval), configured to be capable of entering and exiting between a most protruding position protruding in the outer radial direction and a retracted position retracted in the inner radial direction from the most protruding position, and elastically urged in the protruding direction, and configured to come into contact with the surface of the bill from the outer surface, wherein the bill wound around the outer peripheral surface of the bill stacking drum is stacked (wound) astride the outer surfaces of the in-out members. The radial positions of the outer peripheral surfaces of the respective entry and exit members at the most projected positions shown in fig. 5(c), fig. 5 (d), and the like are uniform, and the elastic biasing force is also uniform.

Each belt mechanism (each transport guide member) 110, 130, 140 is a mechanism which is arranged in plural along a circulating (rotating) moving path of the outer peripheral surface of the payout roller and brings (abuts) the surface of the bill into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the payout roller (the in-out member). The

belt mechanisms

110, 130, and 140 are mechanisms in which the

belts

111, 131, and 141 are pressed into the respective inlet and outlet members at equal distances in the inner radial direction with respect to the banknotes stacked on the outer peripheral surface of the drum, so that the outer radial position of the outer peripheral surface of the banknotes on the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum is always kept constant regardless of the number (thickness) of the banknote bundle. Therefore, the tension and hardness of each belt are set to be sufficient enough to press the belt uniformly toward the inner diameter side against the elastic force that causes the entry and exit member to protrude in the outer diameter direction.

The first shutter (receiving switching guide member) 120 is a mechanism that is rotatable about the shaft portion of the pulley 120a and guides the leading end portion of the banknote just introduced from the receiving portion to the entrance of the first contact travel region T1 between the outer peripheral surface of the drum and the transport guide member. Further, the first shutter 120 is a mechanism for preventing the received bill from flowing back to the receiving port 102, and is biased by a spring at all times (at the time of non-operation) so that the leading end portion thereof comes into contact with the surface of the payout roller. When the dispensing drum described later is reversed, the rear end of the bill is prevented from being returned from the inlet to the escrow unit and guided to the left behind bill storage unit 24.

The second shutter (first outlet switching guide member) 160 is driven by a solenoid (swing solenoid), not shown, and operates to open a path to the outlet 107 after all the banknotes that have been returned have been stacked on the outer periphery of the delivery drum, thereby enabling batch delivery of the banknote bundle. That is, the second shutter 160 is a mechanism that selectively switches the transport direction of the banknotes that have entered the first contact travel region T1 between the outer circumferential surface of the dispensing drum and the first belt 111 to either the direction along the outer circumferential surface of the dispensing drum (downward) or the first exit direction. That is, when the second shutter 160 is biased by the spring to the open position shown in fig. 6, the path from the first contact travel region T1 in the direction of the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing drum is opened (the first outlet-side path is closed), and the banknotes (bundle) on the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing drum can be transported counterclockwise along the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing drum. When the solenoid is biased to the closed position shown in fig. 16 c, the second shutter 160 opens the first outlet-side path (closes the path toward the outer peripheral surface of the banknote stacking drum), and guides the banknotes (bundle) on the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum main body from the leading end thereof to the first outlet.

The control mechanism 300 turns the second shutter (first outlet switching guide member) 160 forward while keeping open the dispensing drum without operating the solenoid during the reception of the banknotes introduced from the inlet 102, and turns the solenoid to turn the second shutter 160 to the closed position and forward the dispensing drum (after the turning) when the reception is completed and the bundle of banknotes on the outer periphery of the drum is discharged from the first outlet to the outside of the machine.

The second outlet 180 is disposed at a position different from the first outlet 107 and communicates with the left behind note storage section (note retaining section) 24.

The third shutter 170 is biased toward the delivery roller by a spring (not shown) at a normal time (non-operating time) to open a path toward the left behind note storage unit 24, and therefore, when the left behind note BB' is discharged from the second outlet 180 by the reverse rotation of the delivery roller, the discharge is guided by cooperation with the third belt mechanism 104. That is, the third shutter (switching guide member) 170 is configured to be switchable between a posture of closing a path toward the second outlet 180 and a posture of opening the path and guiding the banknotes on the outer peripheral surface of the drum to the second outlet. The third shutter is always urged counterclockwise by a spring toward the dispensing drum, but is pressed in the radial direction by the banknotes on the in-out member passing through the process of rotating the dispensing drum in the normal rotation direction to rotate clockwise, so as to allow the banknotes on the peripheral surface of the dispensing drum (outer surface of the in-out member) to pass through.

In fig. 17, when the dispensing drum is reversed and the banknote bundle on the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing drum is moved clockwise from the rear end thereof as will be described later, the third shutter 170 is biased counterclockwise toward the inside of the dispensing drum by a spring, and therefore opens the path toward the second outlet.

When the banknote bundle that has been temporarily paid out from the first outlet by the normal rotation of the delivery drum or the like has not been taken out by the customer for a predetermined time, the control mechanism 300 reverses the delivery drum to return the banknote bundle into the machine and discharges the banknote bundle from the second outlet 180 to the left behind banknote storage section (banknote holding section) 24. At this time, the third shutter 170 is in the second outlet open position, and thus by continuing to reverse the payout roller by a predetermined angle, the rear end of the bundle of banknotes can be advanced and discharged from the second outlet.

In addition,

bill detection sensors

102a, 107a, 180a are disposed on the inlet port 102, the outlet port 107, and the discharge port 180, respectively.

In this example, the discharge drum 105 is supported only by a shaft so as to be rotatable forward and backward, and is driven to rotate by coming into contact with a belt constituting each belt mechanism.

The first belt mechanism (conveyance guide member) 110 has a structure in which a first belt 111 is looped and stretched by pulleys 112a to 112d to rotate forward and backward, and is driven by a motor 190. The first belt mechanism 110 has: a function of guiding the banknote B received from the receiving port 102 from the right end portion of the first contact travel region T1 at the time of normal rotation, thereby guiding the leading end of the banknote onto the outer peripheral surface of the payout drum (in-out member) and starting winding; and a function of delivering the rejected banknotes stacked (stacked) on the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum to the outlet 107 by cooperation with the second shutter 160. Further, since the first belt mechanism is configured such that the

pulleys

112c and 112d can move up and down around the shaft portions of the pulleys 112a, the first belt 111 can be raised as a whole in accordance with the increase in thickness of the bill passing through the

pulleys

112c and 112d when the bill is discharged from the outlet 107. When the bill passes through the second shutter 160 and moves forward to the home position HP, the first belt 111 between the

pulleys

112a and 112c constituting the first contact travel area T1 does not move up and down. Further, the first belt portion between the

pulleys

112a and 112c constituting the first contact travel region T1 has a predetermined tension, and thus has a function of applying a pressing force based on the tension to the surface of the bill to press the in-and-out member of the payout drum inward in the radial direction. That is, although there is no pulley in the portion of the first belt 111 forming the first contact travel region T1, even if the thickness of the banknote on the outer circumferential surface of the delivery drum facing this region T1 increases, the first belt 111 does not bend greatly toward the outer diameter side, and the respective inlet and outlet members can be continuously pressed toward the inner diameter side of the delivery drum through the banknote by a strong original holding force, thereby constantly maintaining the radial position (circumferential speed) of the outer circumferential surface of the banknote constant. The same applies to the

belts

131 and 141 of the following second and

third belt mechanisms

130 and 140.

The second belt mechanism 130 is configured to rotate forward and backward by annularly tensioning the second belt 131 by the pulleys 132a to 132c, and guides the leading end of the bill moved from the outlet of the first contact traveling zone T1 to the second contact traveling zone T2 by cooperation with the second shutter 160 at the time of forward rotation. The absence of the pulley in the portion of the second belt 131 forming the second contact travel region T2 allows the advancing and retreating member to be pushed inward and radially through the banknote even if the thickness of the banknote passing through this region T2 increases, thereby maintaining the radial position (circumferential velocity) of the outer circumferential surface of the banknote constant at all times.

The third belt mechanism 140 has a structure in which the third belt 141 is stretched by the pulleys 142a to 142c, and has a function of facilitating stacking and conveyance of banknotes to the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum in the normal rotation and discharging the left behind banknotes BB' to the left behind banknote storage unit 24 by cooperation with the third shutter 170 in the reverse rotation.

The fourth belt mechanism 150 has a structure in which the fourth belt 151 is stretched by the

pulleys

152a and 152b, and assists the bill discharge operation to the outlet 107 through the fourth contact travel region T4 by cooperation with the second shutter 160 at the time of normal rotation. In the reverse rotation, the left behind banknotes (bundle) remaining in the outlet 107 are returned into the first contact travel region T1 and guided to the discharge port 180.

Next, an example of a drive transmission mechanism for discharging the stacking unit will be described with reference to fig. 7.

The output gear 190a of the motor 190 is engaged with a large-diameter gear 205, the axis of which is supported by the rotary shaft 105a of the discharge drum 105 so as to be relatively rotatable, via two driven gears 201 and 202. The large-diameter gear 205 is freely assembled to the rotary shaft 105a, and therefore can rotate relative to the discharge drum, and the discharge drum is not driven by the large-diameter gear. The large-diameter gear is a driven mechanism for relaying and transmitting the driving force from the motor to the drive gears 207, 209, 211, 213 of the

belt mechanisms

110, 130, 140, 150. That is, the drive pulleys 112a, 132a, 142a, 152a of the

belt mechanisms

110, 130, 140, 150 are integrated coaxially with the drive gears 207, 211, 209, 213, respectively, and the drive force from the motor is transmitted simultaneously to the drive pulleys 112a, 132a, 142a, 152b by the engagement of the drive gears with the large diameter gear 205, thereby driving the

belts

111, 131, 141, 151.

The discharge drum 105 is driven by friction with the

belts

111, 131, 141, and 151 contacting the outer circumferential surface thereof, and rotates together with the belts, so that the discharge drum and the belts can rotate and travel at the same speed. Since the delivery rollers are rotated and driven at the same speed by the frictional force of the belts and wind the banknotes around the outer circumferential surfaces thereof, there is no speed difference between the traveling speeds of the delivery rollers and the belts, and the banknotes can be stacked without causing the winding start portion (banknote leading end positioning portion) on the delivery roller side to be displaced from the position of the leading end of each fed banknote.

If the payout roller and the belt group are driven separately while the payout roller is brought into contact with the respective belts, the rotational speed of the payout roller needs to be synchronized with the feed speed of the belt group, and it becomes difficult to control the speed, adjust the gears, and the like.

According to the present structure, there is no such inconvenience.

Further, a gear 215 having a middle diameter at the lowermost portion on the receiving slot 102 side is a gear for driving the conveying mechanism on the left behind note storage portion 24 side, and the gear 215 is driven by the motor 190 via the large diameter gear 205.

Next, the structure and operation of the discharge drum and the peripheral members will be described with reference to fig. 8 to 11.

Fig. 8(a), (b) and (c) are a perspective view showing a state in which each belt mechanism is disposed to the payout roller, an external perspective view of the payout roller alone, and a vertical sectional perspective view showing the support mechanism of the in-out member, fig. 9(a) and (b) are perspective views showing a state in which each belt mechanism and each shutter are disposed to the payout roller, fig. 10(a), (b) and (c) are an external perspective view, a vertical sectional perspective view, and a vertical sectional side view showing the payout roller, and fig. 11(a), (b) and (c) are perspective views showing a process of winding the banknotes around the payout roller.

The delivery drum (banknote stacking drum) 105 is a mechanism (fig. 11) for stacking banknotes B fed one by one from the inlet port 102 to the outer circumferential surface while aligning their leading edges in the process of rotating forward around a rotation shaft 105a, and includes: a roller body 250 that is rotationally driven; and a plurality of in-out members (bill support members) 280 provided at the bill stacking portion on the outer peripheral surface of the drum main body in a predetermined circumferential arrangement manner (with a predetermined interval therebetween), configured to be capable of moving in and out between a most protruding position protruding from the drum main body in the outer radial direction and a retracted position retracted from the most protruding position in the inner radial direction, and elastically biased in the protruding direction, and configured to contact the surface of the bill with the outer surface thereof, wherein the bills stacked on the outer peripheral surface of the payout drum are wound between the outer surfaces of the in-out members 280.

The drum main body 250 includes: a base member 252 integrated with the rotary shaft 105a of the drum; and a guide member 255 integrally provided on the base member and guiding the entry and exit member protrudingly arranged at 90 degree intervals to the outer diameter direction to the circumferential direction. In this example, the guide member 255 has a hollow quadrangular prism shape, and the entry and exit member 280 is supported by the inner wall thereof so as to be freely movable in the inner and outer diameter directions and so as not to be detachable, and each entry and exit member 280 is elastically urged in the outer diameter direction (protruding direction) by each elastic member 257 with a uniform force.

The weight of each of the advancing and retracting members and the spring force of each of the elastic members are set to be equal, so that each of the advancing and retracting members can be displaced equidistantly to the inner diameter side by the pressing of the belt.

The base member 252 includes: seven disc-shaped partition members 258 arranged at predetermined intervals in the axial direction of the rotation shaft 105 a; and four annular groove portions 258a formed between the partition members and respectively receiving the four

claw pieces

120A, 160A, 170A (see fig. 9) constituting the

baffles

120, 160, 170. The second and third partition members 258 also serve as the guide members 255 from both outer sides in the axial direction, and the access member 280 and the elastic member 257 are accommodated between the guide members 255 so as to be able to advance and retract and displace in the axial direction and so as not to be able to detach. As shown in fig. 10(b) and (c), the hook portions 255a formed on the opposing surfaces of the guide members 255 engage with the hook portions 282a provided on the entry and exit member so as not to come off in the outer diameter direction.

Since the

claw pieces

120A, 160A, 170A of the respective flappers have the respective annular groove portions 258a arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the base member 252 in the axial direction, the tip end portions (contact portions with the banknotes) thereof can be made to pass over the outermost peripheral surfaces of the respective inlet and outlet members and enter the inner diameter side. On the other hand, when the surface of the bill contacts the outer peripheral surface of each inlet/outlet member, the bill blocks each annular groove 258a, and therefore the tip portion of each claw piece cannot get over the inside diameter side of the bill entry because of contacting the bill.

As shown in fig. 10, each access member 280 has: a guided member (slide member) 282 which advances and retreats in the inner and outer diameter directions along the inner wall of the guide member 255 and is urged by an elastic member 257; and a contact member 285 mounted on the guided member, contacting the bill and supported by the outer surface. Each guided member 282 has a recess 282b at the circumferential center, and banknote guide pieces 282c are projected from both circumferential sides of the recess symmetrically in the left-right direction.

Further, the recess 282b is not essential.

In the guided member 282 of one pair of the four pairs of the in-and-out members 280A, a winding start portion (bill leading end positioning portion) 286 composed of a friction pad is rotatably (swingably) arranged as a contact member 285, unlike the other three pairs of the in-and-out members 280B. The winding start portion 286 is rotatably supported by a shaft portion 286a supported by the entry and exit member within a predetermined small angle range.

The shaft portion 286a may be non-detachably supported by the distal end portion of the guided member 282, and the support structure thereof is not limited. The winding start portion 286 may rotate together with the shaft portion 286a, or only the winding start portion may rotate with respect to the fixed shaft portion 286 a.

In the recesses 282B of the guided members of the other three pairs of entry and exit members 280B, friction reduction rollers (rotating bodies) 290 are rotatably supported by the shaft 290 a. Like shaft portion 286a, the support structure for shaft portion 290a may be any support structure.

The winding start portion 286 is a mechanism for conveying the paper money by holding the leading end of the paper money between the paper money and the surface of the belt, and therefore, is a slip prevention portion (rubber or the like) in which the friction coefficient of the outer surface in contact with the paper money is set to be large. By supporting the winding start portion 286 in a see-saw type rotatable manner by the guided member 282, the support posture of the banknote leading end portion can be changed flexibly by receiving a pressing force from the belt across the banknote, and the banknote leading end portion can be guided stably in the winding direction while preventing an excessive load from being applied to the banknote.

On the other hand, the other three pairs of in-out members 280B are configured to be easily slid between the rollers 290 that are rotatable to avoid friction with the banknotes when the banknotes are sunk in the inner diameter direction due to the increase in thickness of the banknotes. Instead of the rotating roller, a member made of a material having a low frictional resistance may be supported so as to be swingable within a predetermined small angle range, similarly to the winding start portion 286.

Further, if the three pairs of inlet and outlet members 280B are provided with the anti-slip portions having a large frictional resistance on the outer surfaces thereof, even if each of the inlet and outlet members 280B is intended to move in the inner diameter direction by the pressure from the belt as the thickness of the banknotes on the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum increases, the inlet and outlet members 280B cannot be smoothly displaced in the inner diameter direction because the banknotes are partially strongly pinched between the anti-slip portions and the belt and cannot slip. In contrast, if rollers 290 are provided at the contact portions of the three inlet/outlet members 280B and the banknotes so as to allow the banknotes to freely slide in the circumferential direction as in this example, it is possible to prevent the tension of the banknotes from interfering with the displacement of the inlet/outlet members toward the inner diameter side due to the clamping force of the belts, and therefore, the diameter reducing operation of the outer peripheral surface of the banknotes due to the retraction of the inlet/outlet members toward the inner diameter can be made smooth.

Further, in this example, the access members are arranged four at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, but this is just one example. Further, by providing the bill guide piece 282c having both end portions inclined toward the inner diameter side in each guided member 282 constituting each inlet/outlet member 280, a large contact area with the bill is secured to improve the support stability and the adhesion at the time of winding.

As shown in fig. 11(a), (B) and (c), in the process of sequentially winding the banknote B1 introduced onto the outer peripheral surface of the payout drum from the winding start portion 286 onto the other rollers 290, the belts constituting the belt mechanism, not shown, uniformly press the respective inlet and

outlet members

280A, 280B in the inner radial direction by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the banknote, via the banknote B1. At this time, since each guided member 282 can be retracted in the inner radial direction against the elastic member 257, the radial position of the outermost peripheral surface of the banknote wound in a roll shape between the entry and exit members is always constant, and the peripheral speed is also constant.

Next, the encoder mechanism 210 will be described.

As shown in fig. 6, 8 to 13, and the like, the encoder mechanism 210 generally includes: a code wheel 212 having a plurality of slits 213 at predetermined intervals on an outer periphery thereof, configured coaxially with the payout roller 105 (roller body), and rotating integrally therewith; a first detector 220 and a second detector 222, which are configured by a photo interrupter in which a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion are arranged to face each other with a moving path of a plurality of slits 213 formed at an edge of a code wheel at a predetermined pitch interposed therebetween, wherein the first detector 220 is used for HP detection of the payout roller, and the second detector 222 is used for detection of the rotational position of the payout roller (rotational angle detector); and an initial position mark 225 printed on the base member 252 of the cylinder body.

The

detectors

220 and 222 are fixed to the fixing portion of the apparatus main body in a state where the light emitting portions and the light receiving portions sandwich the movement path of the slit 213 of the code wheel. The control mechanism counts the output per unit time of each detector based on a signal received by the light receiving portion through the slit 213 from the detection light of the light emitting portion, and detects the number of rotations and the rotational speed of the code wheel 212.

Most of the slits 213 have the same axial length, but a specific slit is configured to be longer than the other slits so that the winding start portion 286 of the discharge drum can detect this when reaching the home position HP. A short slit for detecting the rotation angle is arranged within the detection range of the second detector 222, and can be detected by the second detector. The amount of movement (rotation amount, rotation angle position) of the payout roller is detected by the number of pulses obtained from the short slit.

The longer portion of the long slit for HP detection (the portion longer than the short slit) is arranged in an axial direction position detectable only by the first detector 220. When the first detector 220 rotates by a predetermined angle after detecting the long slit, the circumferential central portion of the winding start portion 286 reaches the initial position. The amount of movement of the long slit to the initial position is calculated based on the number of pulses obtained by detecting the short slit by the second detector 222.

The initial position mark 225 is formed on the side face of the base member 252 of the roller body corresponding to the long slit so that the position of the long slit in the code wheel 212 can be visually confirmed (observed) at the time of assembly. That is, the home position mark 225, the long slit, and the winding start portion 286 are formed and arranged at the same circumferential position, and the home position mark 225 is formed in order to coincide the long slit and the winding start portion at the time of assembly.

[ banknote winding and stacking operation ]

Next, an example of a stacking operation for winding banknotes around the outer circumference of the delivery drum will be described with reference to the flowcharts of fig. 12 to 15 and 18.

Fig. 12(a) to (c), fig. 13(d), (e), fig. 14(f) to (h), and fig. 15(i), (j) are explanatory diagrams of a stacking operation of winding banknotes around the outer periphery of the delivery drum, and fig. 18 is a flowchart showing the stacking operation, the batch delivery operation, and the left behind banknote handling operation.

Before the banknote winding operation, in step S1, it is checked whether or not a command is issued from the control mechanism to retract the banknotes (the reject banknotes and the reject banknotes due to the failure of the transaction) temporarily held in the tray unit 20. When this command is output, the escrow drum 21, the conveyor belt 20a, and the like are driven to start the one-by-one transfer of the banknotes from the escrow unit to the delivery and accumulation unit 22 (step S2).

Next, in step S3, it is checked whether or not the first banknote B1 from the escrow unit has reached the inlet 102.

Fig. 12(a) shows a state in which the banknote detection sensor 102a detects the leading end portion of the banknote, and shows a state in which the leading end portion of the first returned banknote B1 among the banknotes stored on the outer periphery of the escrow drum 21 in the escrow unit 20 and transported by the transport belt 20a reaches the banknote detection sensor 102a in front of the inlet port 102 (step S3, yes). In a standby state before the bill detecting sensor 102a detects the bill leading end, a winding start portion (bill leading end positioning portion) 286 (in-out member 280A) for aligning the bill leading ends arranged on the outer periphery of the payout drum is stopped at a home position HP (relative position of the receiving port 102) shown in fig. 12 (a). When the leading end of the bill B1 conveyed by the conveyor belt 20a is detected by the bill detecting sensor 102, the

belt mechanisms

110, 130, 140, and 150 start to be driven in the normal rotation direction to start the normal rotation of the delivery drum (step S4), and thereafter, the timing at which the leading end of the bill B1 reaches the receiving position (the inlet 102) is the same as the timing at which the winding start portion 286 of the delivery drum 105 reaches the receiving position from the home position HP.

The gear transmission mechanism is configured to keep the banknote transport speed of the transport belt 20a constant with the rotational speed of the delivery drum, and to set the home position HP of the delivery drum appropriately in advance, so that the leading end of the banknote B1 can be controlled to coincide with the receipt start portion 286 of the delivery drum at the receipt position, and thus the control can be easily performed.

The winding start portion 286 is provided in one of the four inlet/outlet members 280A, and only the frictional resistance between the outer surface of the inlet/outlet member as the winding start portion and the surface of the banknote is set to be large. The winding start unit is a mechanism for holding the leading end of the banknote just introduced without shifting the position thereof by cooperation with the first belt 111.

In the banknote detection state of fig. 12(a), when the motor 190 is driven in the normal rotation direction, the

belt mechanisms

110, 130, 140, and 150 start to be driven in the normal rotation direction, and therefore the

belts

111, 131, 141, and 151 start to move in the receiving direction indicated by the arrow a. The discharge drum 105 rotates together with the contact resistance of the belts, and therefore starts to rotate in the normal direction (winding direction) as the belts start to travel. In order to bring the leading end of the bill B1 to the retracted position at the timing when the payout drum 105 rotates in the take-up direction, i.e., counterclockwise direction to bring the appropriate position of the outer surface of the take-up start portion, in this example, the circumferential direction center portion, to the retracted position (the inlet 102) shown in this figure (B), the control mechanism 300 drives the motor of the trunk portion to advance the conveyor belt 20a (step S4). Thus, the leading end portion of the banknote B1 in the standby position is nipped between the outer surface of the winding start portion and the first belt 111, and is wound into the first contact travel region T1.

Since the frictional resistance between the outer surface of the winding start portion and the surface of the first belt is large, no slip occurs between the two surfaces of the front end of the banknote.

In this example, the home position HP is set at a position where the circumferential position is shifted by 180 degrees from the retracted position, but this is merely an example.

Note that the moving speed of the banknote B1 at the position shown in fig. 12(a) before it reaches the retracted position shown in (B) is the same as the moving speed (circumferential speed) when the winding start portion at the home position HP moves to the retracted position, and is, for example, 800 msec. In the present invention, by the cooperation of the characteristic structure of the dispensing drum and the pressing force of the belt, even if the number of banknotes held between the in-out members increases, the in-out members can be equally sunk toward the inner diameter side through the banknotes by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the banknotes, and therefore the linear velocity (position on the outer diameter side) of the outer peripheral surface of the stacked banknotes is always constant.

In the state of fig. 12(a), the first shutter 120 is biased by the spring so that the leading end portion thereof faces the outer surface of the delivery drum 105, but at the start of the banknote introduction in (b), the winding start portion 286 moves around to the retracted position, and the leading end of the banknote is pressed against the outer surface of the winding start portion by the first shutter. At this time, the first shutter 120 is pushed up by the thickness of the bill by being pressed by the bill. The bill B1 entering from the inlet 102 passes in contact with the front end of the first shutter 120, and is thus stably guided into the first contact region T1. In (b), when the banknote starts to be wound into the first contact advancing region T1, the banknote leading end portion is thereafter sandwiched by the winding start portion 286 and the first belt 111 with a necessary and sufficient pressing force, and moves counterclockwise within the first contact advancing region T1 without dropping out or shifting in position, and the banknote portion located rearward of the leading end portion also moves within the first contact advancing region T1. The paper money is closely attached to the outer surface of each in-out member and wound between the in-out members in the process of being wound around the outer peripheral surface of the delivery roller.

(c) The first banknote B1 is shown in a state in which the winding of the banknote onto the outer periphery of the payout drum has not been completed, and after the trailing end of the banknote passes through the banknote detection sensor 102a, the normal rotation driving of the respective belt mechanisms is continued and the payout drum is continuously rotated until the winding onto the outer periphery of the payout drum (between the in-out members) is completed.

Further, as shown in fig. 13(d), after the trailing end of the banknote leaves the first contact travel region T1, the payout drum continues to rotate until the winding start portion (banknote leading end portion) reaches the home position HP, and as shown in fig. 13(e), the rotation is temporarily stopped at the time when the winding start portion reaches the home position, and the second banknote B2 waits for the arrival at the banknote detection sensor 102 a.

In (d), the banknote B1 passes through the third shutter 170, and therefore the third shutter is pressed by the banknote passing along its inner surface to rotate outward about the shaft 171 to allow the banknote to pass through, as shown in (e), when the rear end of the banknote passes through, it is returned to the home position by the spring.

In the process of the first banknote B1 moving in the winding direction in the first to third contact travel regions T1 to T3, the entrance and exit member 280A having the winding start portion and the other entrance and exit member 280B sink equally toward the inner diameter side of the payout drum by an amount corresponding to the thickness of one banknote due to the pressure from the

respective belts

111, 131, 141 across the banknote, and therefore the linear velocity of the outer peripheral surface of the banknote B1 does not change and coincides with the transport velocity of the banknote when being transported to the receiving position. Therefore, in winding all the banknotes around the outer surface of the payout roller, there is no need to reduce the rotation speed of the payout roller, and there is no need for complicated control of the rotation speed.

Fig. 14(f) to (h) and fig. 15(i), (j) following fig. 12, 13 show the process of winding the second banknote B2 around the outer periphery of the payout roller by continuing the rotation of the payout roller, but repeating the same process as the first banknote (step S5).

Fig. 14(f) shows a state where the leading end of the second banknote B2 reaches the banknote detection sensor 102a and stands by, and in (g), the second banknote B2 is fed by the rotation of the belt mechanism and the payout drum at the timing when the leading end portion of the first banknote B1 at the deposit start portion reaches the deposit position, and both banknotes can be wound into the first contact travel region T1 with the leading end edges of both banknotes B1 and B2 aligned. Fig. 14(h) and fig. 15(i) and (j) correspond to fig. 12(c) and fig. 13(d) and (e), respectively.

Even when the second banknote is stacked on the outer surface of the first banknote, the inlet/outlet member 280A having the winding start portion and the other inlet/outlet member 280B are equally sunk toward the inner diameter side of the payout drum by the pressure from the

belts

111, 131, 141 sandwiching the two banknotes by the amount corresponding to the thickness of the two banknotes, and therefore the linear velocity of the outer peripheral surface of the outermost banknote B2 is not changed and is matched with the transport velocity of the banknote when it is fed to the deposit position. Therefore, in the process of winding all the banknotes around the outer surface of the payout roller, the rotation speed of the payout roller does not need to be reduced, and complicated control of the rotation speed is not required. The same applies to the operation of winding the third and subsequent banknotes around the outer peripheral surface of the delivery drum.

The same winding operation as that of the second sheet is repeated for the third and subsequent banknotes.

In step S6, it is determined whether the number of banknotes around which the winding operation is completed by the payout roller reaches N, and when the number of banknotes reaches N, the operation shifts to the batch payout operation shown in step S7, and the bundle of banknotes is discharged in batch from the outlet 107 to the outside of the machine.

[ batch payout action ]

Through the above process, when all the banknotes wound in an orderly state on the outer circumference of the payout drum are transferred to the outer circumference of the payout drum, the state shown in fig. 16(a) is changed.

That is, fig. 16(a) to (c) show the process of the batch payout action.

When the stacking completion state shown in fig. 16 a is reached, the batch withdrawal operation (batch dispensing operation) of batch-withdrawing the banknotes BB to be returned from the outlet 107 is performed next (step S7).

In the state of fig. 16(a), the leading edge of the banknote bundle BB is at the home position HP, and therefore, the delivery rollers are rotated counterclockwise to deliver the banknote bundle BB from the outlet 107, and are guided to the outlet 107 by the action of the second shutter 160.

In fig. 16(a), the second shutter 160 is biased in the outer radial direction by a spring (not shown) and, therefore, the second shutter distal end portion on the right side of the rotation shaft 161 closes the path to the outlet 107, but the control mechanism 300 rotates the second shutter distal end portion in the inner radial direction (clockwise direction, outlet opening direction) by operating a solenoid (not shown) at the timing when the rear end portion of the banknote bundle BB is detached from the lower surface of the second shutter distal end portion. By this opening operation, an opening path ((b)) toward the outlet 107 is formed above the second shutter. The timing at which the rear end portion of the banknote bundle BB is separated from the front end portion of the second shutter can be set in advance according to the banknote length.

Since the second shutter 160 opens the path toward the exit 107 at the stage of fig. 16(b), the leading end portion of the bundle of banknotes can smoothly move from the exit 107 to the outside ((c)) by the rotation of the first belt 111 and the payout drum in the payout direction while the leading end portion of the bundle of banknotes reaches the exit 107 after entering the first contact travel region T1. In addition, since the first belt mechanism 110 has a structure in which the

pulleys

112c and 112d on the outlet side move up and down around the shaft of the pulley 112a, the outlet side of the first belt rises when the banknote bundle BB passes, and the banknote bundle BB passes more smoothly.

After the banknote detection sensor 107a detects that the banknote bundle discharged from the outlet 107 is removed by the customer and the rear end of the banknote bundle passes through the outlet 107, the solenoid is turned off, and thereby the second shutter is returned to the home position shown in fig. 16(a) (steps S8, S9).

Further, the final discharge of the banknote bundle BB to the outside of the machine is performed by cooperation of the first belt mechanism 110 and the fourth belt mechanism 150.

[ forgotten paper money handling action ]

Next, a process of discharging left-behind banknotes to the left-behind banknote storage unit 24 will be described based on the flowcharts of fig. 17 and 18 (steps S10 and S11) showing the left-behind banknote handling operation.

In the retracted state of fig. 16 c, only the front end side of the banknote bundle BB being retracted projects outward from the exit 107 (the retraction port 7), and the rear portion of the banknote bundle is held by the fourth contact travel region T4 formed by the first belt 111 and the fourth belt 151. Therefore, the banknote bundle cannot be taken out unless the customer grasps the leading end of the banknote bundle and pulls it out. It can be determined from the detection information of the banknote detection sensor 107a that the banknote bundle has been taken out or has not been taken out. When the discharged banknote is removed by the customer, the second shutter 160 is returned to the home position and waits for the next banknote winding (yes at step S8, step S9).

When the state in which the banknote bundle is not collected by the customer continues for a certain time period as shown in fig. 17 a (yes at step S10), the control means 300 causes the motor 190 to reverse all the belt mechanisms to start the withdrawal of the left behind banknote bundle BB' into the machine as shown in fig. 17 b (step S11). The payout rollers are rotated in reverse together with the rotation of the respective belt mechanisms. As a premise for starting the reverse rotation of the belt mechanism, as shown in fig. 17(a), the third shutter 170 is retracted to the inner diameter side by the action of a spring, and opens the discharge port 180 toward the left behind note storage unit 24.

Further, after the stage in which the banknote bundle is being pulled in fig. 17(b), the forgetting-to-take banknote bundle BB' is discharged from the rear end side thereof to the forgetting-to-take banknote housing section 24 through the first contact travel region T1, the third contact travel region T3, and the discharge port 180 and is housed therein as shown in fig. 17(c) by continuing the reverse rotation of the respective belt mechanisms and the discharge rollers (step S11). The left behind banknote bundle BB' can be detected by the banknote detection sensor 180a as having passed through the discharge port 180.

In this way, when the left behind banknotes that have been paid out to the outlet 107 have not been taken out after a certain time has elapsed, they are collected in the machine, and can be used by the next customer without delay, and a reduction in the operating rate can be prevented.

The banknotes stored in the left behind banknote storage section 24 cannot be removed unless the worker pulls out the discharge stacking section (discharge stacking apparatus) 22 and opens the inside to remove the banknotes.

When the discharge to the left behind banknote storage unit 24 is completed, the discharge roller is returned to the initial position shown in fig. 12(a), and the second shutter 160 closes the outlet 107, and the next banknote is waited for to be inserted.

[ composition, action, and Effect of the invention ]

The paper sheet stacking cylinder 105 according to the first aspect of the invention is a cylinder for stacking paper sheets fed one by one on an outer peripheral surface while rotating, the cylinder including: a plurality of in-out members (sheet supporting members) 280 which are provided at a sheet stacking portion on the outer peripheral surface in a predetermined circumferential arrangement (with a predetermined interval therebetween), are configured to be able to move in and out at a retracted position retracted in the inner radial direction, are elastically biased in the protruding direction, and are configured to come into contact with the sheet surface from the outer surface, wherein the sheet is stacked (wound) across the in-out members.

For example, in a drum-type rejected paper stacking apparatus that feeds the rejected paper in sequence onto the outer peripheral surface of a delivery drum, winds and stacks the paper in a stacked state, and performs batch reject processing when it is determined to reject the paper temporarily remaining after input, the linear velocity of the paper at the outermost periphery of the delivery drum can be maintained constant without performing special velocity control even if the number of sheets stacked on the outer periphery of the delivery drum increases, thereby maintaining the alignment of the banknotes.

The present invention can be widely applied not only to the sheet withdrawal but also to a device for stacking sheets on the drum circumferential surface with good alignment.

The circumferential surface connecting the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective inlet and outlet members forms the outer circumferential surface of the paper sheet stacking cylinder.

In the conventional paper stacking drum, the outer diameter of the drum increases as the number of sheets stacked increases, and therefore the peripheral speed of the outermost sheet increases. In order to match the speed of the sheet fed onto the outer peripheral surface of the drum at a uniform speed with the peripheral speed of the drum, the rotational speed of the drum needs to be reduced. However, since the radial position of the outermost peripheral surface changes and the peripheral speed changes every sheet increases by one sheet, highly accurate deceleration control is required, and as a result, it is extremely difficult to align the leading end of the succeeding sheet with the leading end of the preceding wound sheet.

In the sheet stacking cylinder of the present invention, the feeding member receives the sheet to be fed and is supported between the feeding members in a rolled manner, and the feeding member is retracted to the inner diameter side by an amount corresponding to an increase in the thickness of the sheet by a pressing force applied by a belt or the like. Therefore, even if the number of sheets on the outer peripheral surface of the drum increases, the position (outer diameter) of the outermost sheet on the outer peripheral surface can be made constant, and as a result, the peripheral speed can be made constant at all times.

The paper sheet stacking roller is applicable not only to a retracted paper sheet stacking apparatus but also to a mechanism for stacking paper sheets one by one on the outer peripheral surface of the roller in an orderly state.

A second aspect of the present invention is a sheet stacking apparatus including: a receiving unit 102 that receives a sheet conveyed; the paper stacking drum 105 that is rotatable forward and backward and stacks the paper sheets received by the receiving unit one by one on the outer peripheral surface sequentially in the forward rotation process to form a paper bundle; a plurality of conveyance guide members 110, 130, 140 which are arranged along a circulating (rotating) movement path of the outer peripheral surface (in-out member 280) of the sheet stacking cylinder and bring (closely contact) the sheet surface with the outer peripheral surface (outer surface of each in-out member) of the sheet stacking cylinder; a first outlet 107 for discharging the sheets stacked on the outer peripheral surface of the sheet stacking cylinder (outer surface of each of the inlet and outlet members) to the outside; a first exit switching guide member (second flapper) 160 that selectively switches the transport direction of the sheet entering the contact travel region T1 between the outer peripheral surface of the sheet stacking cylinder (the outer surface of each of the entry and exit members) and one of the transport guide members to either the outer peripheral surface direction of the sheet stacking cylinder or the first exit direction; a drive source 190 for the paper stacking cylinder; a driving source (solenoid) of the first outlet switching guide member 160; and a control mechanism 300 for controlling the drive sources, wherein the first exit switching guide member 160 opens a path from the contact travel region T1 to the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder when in the open posture, and opens a path to the first exit when in the closed posture, the transport guide members press the in-and-out members in the inner radial direction through the paper sheets stacked on the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder (the outer surfaces of the in-and-out members) so as to always keep the outer radial position of the outer peripheral surface of the paper sheets on the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder (the outer surfaces of the in-and-out members) constant regardless of the number of paper sheets, the control mechanism continuously opens the first exit switching guide member to rotate the paper stacking cylinder in the forward direction during the period when receiving the paper sheets introduced from the receiving section, and when the paper sheets (the bundle) on the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder (the outer surfaces of the in-and-out members) are discharged from the first exit to the outside, the first outlet switching guide member is moved to the closed position, and the paper stacking cylinder is rotated forward.

Since the peripheral speed can be always kept constant regardless of the increase in the number of sheets on the outer peripheral surface of the stacking cylinder by the cooperation of the sheet stacking cylinder 105 whose outer peripheral surface (outer surface of the in-out member) can be displaced radially inward in accordance with the thickness of the wound sheet and the

conveyance guide members

110, 130, 140 that press the in-out member, the positions of the leading end portions of the preceding sheet and the following sheet can be easily aligned by rotating the sheet stacking cylinder at a constant speed all the time.

A third aspect of the present invention is a sheet stacking apparatus, further comprising: a second outlet 180 that is arranged at a position different from the first outlet 107 and communicates with the sheet holding portion 24; and a rotatable switching guide member (third flapper) 170 for guiding the sheet on the outer peripheral surface of the sheet stacking cylinder to the second outlet, wherein the switching guide member is always in a posture of opening a path to the second outlet, and is changed to a posture of closing the path to the second outlet when the sheet on the outer peripheral surface of the in-and-out member passes in the normal rotation direction, and the control mechanism 300 rotates the sheet stacking cylinder in the reverse direction to discharge the sheet on the outer peripheral surface of the sheet stacking cylinder (outer peripheral surface of the in-and-out member) from the second outlet to the sheet holding portion, thereby discharging the sheet from the rear end to the outside of the apparatus.

When it is clear that the sheet (bundle) discharged to the first outlet is not taken out by the customer, the sheet is collected into the machine by reversing the stacking drum, taking it as a left behind sheet. The recovered sheet is returned to the sheet retaining portion 24 from the rear end portion. The left behind paper can be collected into the paper retaining portion only by reversing the stacking cylinder.

During this reverse movement, the sheets (bundle) are nipped and conveyed on both the inner and outer sides thereof by the cooperation of the respective in-out members and the respective conveyance guide members, and thus the sheet bundle is not scattered.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a sheet stacking apparatus comprising: the outer surface (contact member 285) of one of the inlet and outlet members 280A is configured to have a large frictional resistance against the contact surface of the paper, and the outer surface (contact member 285) of the remaining inlet and outlet members 280B is configured to have a small frictional resistance against the paper (conveyance resistance).

In order to prevent the leading end portion of the sheet first fed onto the outer peripheral surface of the stacking cylinder from slipping against the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, i.e., the outer peripheral surface of the entry and exit member, only the specific entry and exit member 280A, which increases the frictional resistance of the contact member 285, is used as the winding start portion 286. The contact member 285 of each of the other entry and exit members 280B other than the entry and exit member 280A is formed of a structure (rotary body) having a small frictional resistance or a material having a small frictional resistance.

The paper sheet leading end is held by the winding start portion 286 so as not to be displaced, and the other surface of the paper sheet is supported by the remaining entrance/exit member 280B so as to be easily slidable in the circumferential direction, so that the paper sheet can be smoothly wound and unwound between the entrance/exit members. Further, even when the respective inlet and outlet members 280 sink to the inner diameter side by the pressure from the conveyance guide member, the paper does not adhere to the contact member 285, and therefore, the paper can smoothly sink.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a sheet stacking apparatus comprising: the

conveyance guide members

110, 130, 140 are constituted by a belt mechanism in which an endless belt is stretched by pulleys.

The conveyance guide member may be any member as long as it is configured to uniformly press the respective entry and exit members and displace them by a uniform distance toward the inner diameter side, but the belt mechanism is most convenient.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a sheet stacking apparatus comprising: the paper stacking roller is rotationally driven by the conveying guide member.

Thus, it is easy to completely synchronize the peripheral speed of the stacking drum and the speed of the conveying guide member using one driving source.

A paper sheet processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that: the paper stacking apparatus includes any one of the above paper stacking apparatuses.

The sheet processing apparatus according to each of the embodiments is provided with the sheet stacking apparatus according to each of the embodiments, and thus the operation and effect of each of the embodiments can be obtained.

The paper sheet processing apparatus can be applied to all paper sheet processing apparatuses such as vending machines such as ticket vending machines, change machines, cash registers, and ATMs.

Description of the symbols

1: banknote (paper sheet) handling apparatus, 3: case, 3 a: accommodating space, 5: inlet/outlet, 7: exit, 9 a: banknote (paper sheet) transport path for deposit, 9 b: banknote (paper sheet) storage transport path, 11: batch deposit unit, 13: centering part, 15: recognition unit, 20: duct receiving portion, 20 a: conveyor belt, 21: supporting roller, 22: delivery stacking unit (delivery stacking apparatus), 24: left behind banknote (paper sheet) storage unit, 30: circulation type housing portion, 30 a: circulating drum, 40: recovery pool, 50: escrow/stacking unit, T1 to T5: contact travel region, B: banknote, BB: recycling paper money, 100: housing, 102: receiving port (receiving portion), 102 a: banknote detection sensor, 105: paper (paper) stacking cylinder (delivery cylinder), 105 a: rotation axis, 107: outlet (first outlet), 107 a: banknote detection sensor, 110, 130, 140, 150: belt mechanism (conveyance guide member), 111, 131, 141, 151: belts, 112a to 112c, 132a to 132c, 142a to 142c, 152a, 152 b: pulley, 120: first baffle, 120A: claw piece, 160: first outlet switching guide member (second shutter), 161: rotating shaft, 170: third baffle, 171: shaft, 180: discharge port, 180 a: banknote detection sensor, 190: motor (drive source), 190 a: output gear, 201, 202: driven gear, 205: large-diameter gear, 207, 209, 211, 213: drive gear, 210: encoder mechanism, 212: code wheel, 213: slit, 215: gear, 220, 222: detector, 225: initial position marker, 250: roller body, 252: base member, 255: guide member, 255 a: hook portion, 257: elastic member, 258: partition member, 258 a: annular groove portion, 280(280A, 280B): access member, 282: guided member, 282 a: hook, 282 b: recess, 282 c: banknote guide sheet, 285: contact member, 286: winding start portion (banknote leading end positioning portion), 286 a: shaft portion, 290: roller, 290 a: shaft portion, 300: and a control mechanism.

Claims

1. A paper sheet stacking cylinder for stacking paper sheets fed one by one on an outer peripheral surface while rotating, comprising:

a roller body which is rotationally driven; a plurality of in-out members provided at a paper stacking portion on an outer peripheral surface of the drum main body in a predetermined circumferential arrangement, configured to be capable of moving in and out between a most protruding position protruding in an outer radial direction and a retracted position retracted in an inner radial direction from the most protruding position, and elastically urged in the protruding direction and to come into contact with a paper surface from an outer surface,

the sheets are stacked astride between the in-out members,

the plurality of in-out members rotate together with the drum main body,

the inlet and outlet members with different circumferential positions are provided with structures for independent inlet and outlet,

one of the entrance and exit members is configured to have a large frictional resistance against a contact surface of the sheet, and the remaining entrance and exit members are configured to have a small frictional resistance against the sheet.

2. A paper stacking apparatus is characterized by comprising:

a receiving unit that receives the conveyed sheet;

the paper sheet stacking cylinder according to claim 1, which is rotatable forward and backward, and which stacks the paper sheets received by the receiving unit on the outer peripheral surface one by one while being sequentially overlapped one by one in the forward rotation process to form a paper sheet bundle;

a plurality of conveying guide members which are arranged along a circulating moving path of the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder and make the surface of the paper contact with the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder;

a first outlet port for discharging the sheets stacked on the outer peripheral surface of the sheet stacking cylinder to the outside;

a first exit switching guide member that selectively switches a transport direction of a sheet that enters a contact travel region between the outer peripheral surface of the sheet stacking cylinder and one of the transport guide members to either one of the outer peripheral surface direction of the sheet stacking cylinder and the first exit direction;

a drive source for the paper stacking roller;

a drive source of the first outlet switching guide member; and

a control mechanism that controls the respective drive sources,

the first exit switching guide member opens a path from the contact travel region toward the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder when in an open posture and opens a path toward the first exit when in a closed posture,

the transport guide members press the in-out members in an inner diameter direction with the paper stacked on the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking drum interposed therebetween, so that an outer diameter position of the outer peripheral surface of the paper money on the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking drum is always kept constant regardless of the number of paper sheets,

the control means keeps the first exit switching guide member open to rotate the paper stacking cylinder in the forward direction while receiving the paper introduced from the receiving section, and moves the first exit switching guide member to the closed position and rotates the paper stacking cylinder in the forward direction when the paper on the outer periphery of the paper stacking cylinder is discharged from the first exit to the outside of the machine after the reception is completed.

3. The paper stacking apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a second outlet which is arranged at a position different from the first outlet and communicates with the sheet holding portion; and

a rotatable switching guide member for guiding the paper on the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder to the second outlet,

the switching guide member is always in a posture of opening a path to the second outlet and is changed to a posture of closing the path to the second outlet when the sheet on the outer peripheral surface of the entry and exit member passes in the normal rotation direction,

the control means causes the paper stacking cylinder to reverse when the paper on the outer peripheral surface of the paper stacking cylinder is discharged from the second outlet to the paper retaining section, and discharges the paper from the rear end to the outside of the machine.

4. The paper stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 3, wherein:

the conveying guide member is constituted by a belt mechanism in which an endless belt is stretched by a pulley.

5. The sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein:

the paper stacking roller is rotationally driven by the conveying guide member.

6. The paper stacking apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the paper stacking roller is rotationally driven by the conveying guide member.

7. The paper stacking apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

8. The paper stacking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

9. The paper stacking apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the paper stacking roller is rotationally driven by the conveying guide member.

10. A sheet processing apparatus characterized by:

the paper stacking apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 9.